Independent participatory media for Iran

Iranian families are facing an inflation rate of 50 percent as they shop for necessities, and the poverty line will rise by two million toumans ($1,800) by next March, says Abbas Vatanparvar.

ILNA quotes the former representative of Iranian employers at the World Labour Organization Abbas Vatanparvar as he announced that the poverty line in large Iranian cities is now estimated to be around 1.6 million toumans.

Vatanparvar blamed unequal distribution of wealth and resources for the rising poverty line, predicting it will reach two million toumans by March.

He added that inflation rate is rising by the day, and Iranian families now pay 50 percent more for their daily needs.

He also announced that a large number of production units are now in crisis due to the rise in fuel prices, the result of government cuts to energy subsidies.

Vatanparvar’s estimates were announced after the president’s office told Mehr News Agency that this year’s inflation rate will be between 13 and 15 percent.